Sicko(96)

“We’ll send in the cleanup crew,” Lion says, reaching forward and pressing his finger into the flaming red muscle in Kyle’s thigh. He scrunches his face. “You’re a sick bastard. You know that, right?”

I smirk, running my tongue over my lips and swallowing the blood that had fallen. “One would say a Sicko.”

My phone vibrates in my jean pocket and I fish it out. “Hey, baby.”

“Roy,” she breathes into the phone. “I’m in labor.”





One year later



The sun sets off in the distance, ducking behind one of the many mountains that are on the edge of the ocean at what is now our cabin. The MC, our families, and close friends are over for dinner. Meat is grilling on the BBQ in the far distance, while people are scattered around the place, drinking and chatting. Royce has our princess on his lap near the fire pit, his eyes on mine as she clings to his index finger happily. My heart fills with warmth seeing them together. I will never get used to it. The night I went into labor, I was at the clubhouse helping my mom and Kara set the food up for the hog feast that was happening. Another chapter was in town, so naturally they were crashing at the club. My water broke right there in the kitchen. My doctor said that I’d have enough time to make it to the hospital, so I needn’t worry.

She was wrong.

I gave birth to Wolf Jade Kane exactly ten minutes after my water broke. We didn’t have time to get out of the house before I was giving birth to her on Wolf Pack soil. Made her papa proud, and her grandpa even more so.

Royce kisses the top of her blonde hair, her green eyes coming to mine from across the table.

“You know, you’re both in so much trouble with her,” Sloane says, sitting on one of the chairs beside me as Orson and Storm prepare the boat, tossing the wakeboards and life jackets on.

“Oh, I know,” I say, smiling. “But look at how bad she has wrapped her daddy around her fingers.”

“Mmmhmmm,” Sloane jokes. “Not just your daddy. Now you have to share him.”

I roll my eyes at her lame joke just as Royce comes over, handing Wolf to Sloane. “You wanna come out for a shred?”

I shake my head. “I’m good.” I haven’t been out since I gave birth to Wolf. There’s no way I’m going out tonight, after a few beers.

“You sure?” He leans down, his arms bulging as he squeezes the side of my chair. “You were always keen for a ride on my board.”

I shove him. “Go play. I’ll stay here.”

“Alright, baby.” He kisses me on the head before planting one on Wolf and disappearing toward the dock.

“You two are so cute it’s disturbing, yet oddly satisfying,” Sloane says, kicking her feet up to rest on a log, just as Kara, Karli, Silver, Poppy and my mom and dad make their way over.

“I think it was bound to happen.” India shoves my shoulder, the playful tone in her voice evident while taking the seat beside me.

I chuckle, my head leaning back, watching as all the brothers scatter everywhere, drinking and eating the food that we prepared all day. This is my family and what family feels like.

“What you thinking, baby girl?” Dad asks, taking his pride and joy off Sloane.

I sigh. “Just that life couldn’t get much better than what it is right now.”

Poppy drops down onto the chair opposite me, with Wicked hovering not far behind her. That man is just like Royce when it comes to Poppy. I scoff to myself, thinking of the obvious crush Gypsy has on her. In his dreams. When Wicked moves closer to her, Billie follows.

Poppy and I have spoken a lot since everything went down. She filled me in on the blank parts and offered me a position within Anonymous. The boys don’t know that she’s in Anon. I think they suspect something, but they can’t prove it. Mom leads that group of women like a fierce queen. They’re now working closely with Isaac too while using Storm and Slim when they need anything tracked, coded, or wiped.

“Well, this is your life now, princess. Take it,” Dad announces, a grin on his mouth. I smile at him, and up at everyone that’s here.

He’s right.

I will take it.

“Baby!” Royce yells from behind me.

I spin around, eyes wide. “What?”

He tosses a basketball at me and I catch it with a thud as he takes long strides toward me. My fingers twitch over a lump that’s taped to the ball. I still, my stomach dropping to the ground when I see the white gold diamond ring that’s glistening against the burned orange sun.

“Ro—”

“Shhh.” His finger is at my mouth, a smirk on his. “Stop fucking talking for a second.”

“Okay,” I whisper, my throat throbbing from emotion.

He falls to one knee, a cocky smirk on his mouth as his eyes peer up at me from below. “Jade Olivia Kane, I can’t wait to fuck you, love you, and eat you for the rest of our life. Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I say through choked tears, my hands coming to his cheeks.

“Oh, come on. Really?” Dad says. “Little fuck.”

We all start laughing as Royce scoops me up from the backs of my legs and throws me over his shoulder.

If I had to walk through hell all over again just to have my man finally beneath me, I’d do it one hundred times over. One hundred. Royce was my family before anyone else was. He and Mom invited me into their hearts and made me feel like the missing piece to their family. Sometimes it’s not about blood.